Contents

The building was designed by the architects Caruso St John. It opened in January 2000. Before that, the artworks were in the town's old gallery[6] The New Art Gallery's building won several architectural awards.[7] Over 237,000 people visited it in its first year.[7] In 2000 the gallery was shortlisted for the Sterling Architecture Prize.[8][9]

The Gallery is home to the Garman Ryan Collection of sculptures and paintings by modern masters. These include a large selection of work by Jacob Epstein. It also includes many significant works by European artists including Van Gogh, Monet, Turner, Corot, Renoir and Constable. There are prints, sketches, drawings, paintings and sculptures.[10][11] The collection was donated to the people of Walsall in 1973 by Epstein's wife Kathleen Garman (Lady Epstein) and her friend Sally Ryan.[12]

In 2006 the gallery bought the Epstein Archive. The archive is a collection of photographs, documents and sketches by Jacob Epstein. It also includes letters between Jacob and his family and friends. There are letters between Epstein and the people who bought and sold his work.